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PPF Journalism Training Workshop, Gambat

Date: January 12, 2005
Location: Gambat

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) organized journalism Training Workshop for local journalists and women from 12-14 January, 2005 at Community Centre Hall, Gambat, district Khairpur, Sindh.

Gambat, located at a distance 35 kilometers west of Khairpur, is a market town of the area lying in the hub of fertile agricultural region growing wheat, sugar cane and high quality dates. It has a population of 60,000 people, and support a number of high quality educational institutions, from primary to college level.

The Gambat government Science College has co education, where girls get access to higher education due to absence of a women’s college.The workshop was held at the local community hall and it was attended by 23 participants. The break up was 12 women college lecturers, working for NGO’s and some graduate level students, while 11 men represented various national, regional and local newspapers and magazines.

The PPF instructors’ team consisted of Mr.Fazal Qureshi, Vice Chairman PPF, and senior journalist from Khairpur Raja Abdul Hamid.Principal of the Government Degree Science College (also a life member of local press club ) Syed Ali Raza Jeelani and President Gambat Press Club Roshan Ali Malik jointly inaugurated the workshop.

In their speech, they appreciated the effort that PPF is making in training journalists from rural areas and especially women.Mr.Fazal Qureshi in his opening remarks said during the similar workshops by PPF, great results have been shown by ruraljournalists and women participants and may talented writers have been sorted during these workshops.

The first working session began with the definition of news. This was followed by explanation of the principles of news writing. The segment was followed by group discussion which covered wide range of subjects relating to news writing. During the practical exercise on news writing, the participants were given basic material and asked to write a news item with a proper news lead.

Next item was a discussion on principles of news ethics and values which determines the importance of news to be published in the newspaper. The participants took active part in the discussions and all aspects of journalism ethics including compla
ints about blackmailing and irresponsible news reporting were discussed.

Followed were the lectures on article and feature writing. The lecture explained the procedure of article writing from. The lecture emphasized the need for a detailed preparation of a comprehensive manuscript, the importance of photographs. The lecture also included the way to market articles and features in the media.

During the practical exercise, the participants were asked to select a subject, write an article on some issue of their area which could be used for release to the newspapers. Part of the exercise was done as homework. Their output was then discussed in groups.

The last session included a lecture on importance of maintaining reference records on subjects of interest to the writers. An open discussion followed.Umrah Khan Pathan, correspondent The Nation said that the three day duration of the workshop was not enough. It should be extended to at least one week.

Roshan Ali Malik, President of Press Club was of the view that the journalism manual provided to the participants should also be available in Sindhi language which was the language of the majority of the local journalists.

Lubaba Vaseer, a science graduation student of local college proposed that the ability of write for newspapers was important for all specially women and should be included in the educational curriculum at the graduation level.

Farzana Tonio, a college lecturer of English proposed that PPF should included training of trainers in their program so that this program can be continued through local initiative.Then the participants were given evaluation forms and asked to comment on the quality of the workshop and any suggestions they might have for further improvement.

Professor Mumtaz Moghal, District Officer Education Khairpur was the chief guest of the closing session. In his address, Professor Moghal praised the importance and utility of the workshop saying that the participant were now equipped with new skills and awareness about the techniques and ethics of news and article writing.He expressed hope that more such programs would be organized in future also.The Chief Guest then distributed certificates among the participants.

List of Participants
Name
Designation
Organization
Mr. Umrah Khan Pathan
District Reporter
The Nation
Mr. Raja Abdul Hameed Khaskhali
District Reporter
Daily Star
Mr. Roshan Ali Malik
Correspondent & President Press Club
Daily Jang
Mr. Mohammad Arshad Arslan
Correspondent
Daily Kaiynat
Mr. Shafique Ahmed Khahro
Correspondent
Daily Kawish
Mr. Syed Ali Raza Shah Jeelani
Principal
Goverament College
Mr. Ali Dino Junego
Lecturer
Government College
Mr. Imdad li
Lecturer
Government College
Mr. bdul Rehman Khuhro
Lecturer
Government College
Mr. Arbab Mirani
Miss. Fatima Sana Government College
Miss. Nighat Shaikh
Lecturer
Government College
Miss. Farzan Tunio
Lecturer
Government College
Miss. Seema Parveen Shaikh Government College
Miss. Hina Rasool Shaikh Government College
Miss. Sara Kiran Shaikh Government College
Miss. Lubaba Vaseer Government College
Miss. Razbia Khan Arigo Government College
Miss. Samina Malik Government College
Miss. Kalsoom Shaikh Government College
Miss. Noor-ul —Sabah Government College